Stock status
Stock status
Status report - Whales (from the Marine Research institute)
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) resolution on a temporary closure of commercial whaling came into effect. In 2006, Iceland resumed commercial whaling on fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
The minke whale stock around Iceland is considered to be close to pre-exploitation abundance, and historic catches are not thought to have affected the stock appreciably.
Based on a new stock assessments conducted by the Scientific Committees of NAMMCO and the IWC, the MRI recommends that annual catches of common minke whales from the Central North Atlantic stock do not exceed 216 animals in the Icelandic continental shelf area and 121 animals in the CM area. This advice applies for the calendar years 2011 and 2012.
Results from a fin whale sightings survey in 2007 indicate a total population size of 20 600 animals in the East Greenland, Iceland, and Jan Mayen stock area (EGI stock area), which is similar to the 1995 and 2001 surveys.
On the basis of a recent assessment conducted within the Scientific Committees of the IWC and NAMMCO, the MRI recommends annual catches of up to 154 fin whales as sustainable and precautionary for the calendar years 2011 and 2012.
Status report - Seals (from the Marine Research institute)
In 2010, the reported seal catch and bycatch in Iceland was 147 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), 190 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), 35 harp seals (Phoca groenlandica), one bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), one hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and 77 seals of unidentified species. Grey seal surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2009, where 6 100 (95% CL: 4 600–7 600) animals were estimated along the Icelandic coast. The stock was estimated as 12 000 animals in 1990. According to a survey conducted in 2008 and 2009, the stock of harbour seals was around 6 000 animals. After continuous decline from 1980 to 2002 the stock seems to have started to increase again.
References and further information
This text is from an annual Stock Status Report from the Marine Research Institute. The report is in Icelandic but with an English abstract and table and figure texts.
